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Tim Visser

Prolific winger Tim Visser marked his first Scotland appearance at BT Murrayfield with a brace of tries against Fiji, repeating the feat in his third cap against New Zealand, as Scotland crossed the whitewash against the All Blacks for the first time in seven years, in the 2012 Autumn Tests.

The following year he started all of Scotland's RBS 6 Nations matches, and marked his home debut at BT Murrayfield - against Italy - with a try, concluding the Championship with his sixth try for Scotland in 10 Tests – against France in Paris.

After running out in two Summer tour Tests, his international involvement was curtailed by a leg fracture sustained in the domestic season. Visser did, however return almost exactly a year later in the first game of Scotland's 2014 summer tour, and scored his seventh try for Scotland as the USA were beaten 24-6.

Visser has remained a potent part of Scotland squads ever since, dotting down twice against Italy in Scotland's 48-7 Summer Test win at BT Murrayfield to secure a place in the squad for the Rugby World Cup 2015, where he featured twice and scored a vital try after the break against USA.

Tim returned to the fold in the 2016 RBS 6 Nations and, after missing out on the opening two games, started the remaining three, registering a vital score (his 11th) in the home win over France.

Tim missed out on the summer tour that year but returned in the autumn and the RBS 6 Nations the following year, scoring two tries (against Wales and Italy) in his three appearances, and again in Scotland's opening 2017 summer tour win over Italy to keep his scoring ratio over 42%.

Through the ranks

Born in Zeewolde, Netherlands, Tim's talent was spotted while he was playing in the Amsterdam Sevens, still a pupil at Christelijk College in Nassau-Veluwe and a member of the Hilversum rugby club.

He subsequently came over to County Durham to study at Barnard Castle School and was chosen for the English Schools under-18 team.

His three-year sojourn with Newcastle Falcons included spells on loan to Darlington Mowden Park and Northampton Saints, while the latter were in the English Championship first division.

He scored 11 tries in his debut season and, in his second, broke the record for the most tries in a PRO12 season (with 14) before doing the unthinkable, and upping his game in his third year.

With 13 tries in the PRO12, Visser added three in the Heineken Cup, giving a total tally of 17 - his highest contribution yet.

Towards the end of the 2011/12 season Visser signed a three-year extension to his contract, which had a year left to run, as he expressed his love for the club and adopted country, for which he became eligible in June 2012.

Visser's try-scoring efforts saw him named in the PRO12 Dream Team every season (no other player has done so for three consecutive seasons), he scooped the tournament's Young Player of the Season award in his first season and picked up the Player of the Season award in his third.